13th Annual International Exhibition of Scratchboard Art - 2024

Pearson Lakes Art Center

2201 Highway 71

Okoboji, Iowa 51355

Full Exhibition Dates: Sept. 19 - Nov. 30, 2024

ISSA Show Reception/Awards: Thursday, Sept. 19, 5pm-7pm

Seminars/Presentations: Fri. & Sat. Sept. 20-21

SHOW ENTRY DEADLINE: June 15, 2024

Submit Exhibition Entries Online at: OnlineJuriedShows

Exhibition Directors Contact Information: 

Danna Fruetel: dfruetel@gmail.com  

Susan Everitt: seeverittart@gmail.com  

The 13th annual International Society of Scratchboard Artists (ISSA) exhibition is an international art competition dedicated to presenting scratchboard as a fine art medium. This competition allows Active, Signature and Master members of ISSA the opportunity to exhibit their work and compete with other artists working in the same medium, as well as having their work seen by the public in a high-quality venue. At least $7500 in cash prizes will be awarded! 

Definition of Scratchboard Art: 

The Scratchboard technique is a two-dimensional, subtractive process. It involves the use of abrasive tools to directly remove a surface layer of one value (typically dark) to expose a second layer of a contrasting value (typically white). The values within the artwork are predominantly achieved by varying the amount of surface layer that has been scratched away or left. The texture and form of all key compositional elements within the artwork must be created by subtractive removal, not exclusively by the addition of paint or ink. Reapplying transparent mediums over the scratching is permissible, but the underlying scratches must remain visible. Works may be color or black and white 

NOTE: If you are unsure if your work will qualify by this definition please email an image to president@scratchboardsociety.org (must be submitted a minimum of 10 days before the show entry deadline) before submitting your entry. The ISSA Board of Directors shall make a ruling on its eligibility (this ruling will not guarantee inclusion in the show, only whether the Board feels it meets, or does not meet the definition of Scratchboard, as defined above.). 

Eligibility: This contest is open only to hand-drawn scratchboard artwork but may include any subject matter or style. The exhibition is only open to Active, Signature, and Master Members of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists in good standing. All artworks must be original work executed by the submitting artist and any works based on outside photographs MUST have the photographer’s written permission before entering that work. Submitted works must have been completed in the past five years. Works submitted and accepted to prior ISSA shows, or submitted to any ISSA past Online Show are not eligible to be submitted again. Works completed in workshops, from a kit, or where a pattern was used are not eligible. Artwork may not be created with the use of a laser or other artificial means of scratching not done directly by the hand of the submitting artist. Works not accepted into previous annual shows may be resubmitted if all other criteria are met. 

All selected works are expected to be framed in a professional, gallery-quality manner. No metal frames. Works that have mat board used as either matting or as a backing for a float frame must be behind glass or plexiglass. Artwork must not extend beyond the depth of a float frame. Take pride in your work and set it off with high-quality framing! Poor quality framing may result in your work being excluded from the show. 

Works must be equipped with D-rings and hanging wire, no saw tooth hangers. Works may be behind plexiglass, glass, or framed without cover. Works not covered must have adequate layers of a protective varnish to avoid the risk of incidental scratches in regular handling of your work. Works shipped with glass should have the glass taped for shipping. 

Sales: Works that are for sale and are sold while at the exhibition will have a 40% commission taken by the event host, PLAC. Works will be sold in US dollars so please price accordingly taking commission and exchange rates (if needed) into consideration. Works may not be removed before the conclusion of the exhibition. Not-for-sale works are permitted this year, but we strongly encourage all members to offer their work for sale. 

Minimum Pricing: - All artwork that is available for sale must be priced at a minimum price of $350 to be considered for inclusion. If your work is worthy of being in a professional art show, it should be worthy of a professional price. 

Divisions: 

Open – This category is open to all Active and Signature members of ISSA. Members must be current on 2024 dues by June 5, 2024. Artists not current on membership by that date are not eligible to enter. Artists may submit up to three entries, but unless there is an insufficient number of works submitted, no more than two will be accepted. 

Master – A category for existing ISSA Master Members in good standing. ISSA Master Members may submit up to two works to the exhibition without being juried or paying a jury fee. MSA must still submit the entry form with the information and image of the completed artwork(s) that they intend to send to the exhibition by the entry deadline. No Work-In-Progress images are permitted - please only submit completed works. 

Approximately 60 - 65 total works shall be selected for the exhibition, depending on the size of the work submitted, including both Open and Master divisions. 

Entry Fees for Open Division: There is a $35 entry fee that allows exhibitors to submit up to three works, but no person shall have more than two works accepted for the exhibition. Entry fees are non-refundable and must be paid by the entry deadline. 

Awards: A minimum of $7500 in prizes will be awarded between both Master and Open Divisions. Each division is judged separately. 

Entry Submission Process: Jurying will be completed from digital images only. Submit only one photograph of each image being entered. Good image quality of your work is very important to the jury. Images should be in focus and adjusted to show proper contrast, minimal glare, and accurate colors. Images must be cropped to show only the artwork; all framing and background should be excluded. For best results, make sure your image is 1920 pixels on the longest side (at least) at 72 dpi (no more than 4MB). Images should be in JPG format and sRGB color space. There is no specific file naming protocol. Help in photographing your work and properly sizing your images can be found at: www.OnlineJuriedShows.com/help.aspx. If you need help entering your images or are unable to, please email onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or call 888-666-1351. All entries are to be submitted online at OnlineJuriedShows.com. Log in on this prospectus page and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions. All entry fees must be paid by the entry deadline. 

Jurors: Three ISSA Master Scratchboard Artists (MSA) will be assigned by the ISSA Board of Directors to jury the exhibition and assign awards to the open division. Up to three outside jurors will judge the Master division. 

Jury Notification: Results from the jury shall be available by logging into your www.OnlineJuriedShows.com account by July 15, 2024. Results are no longer sent by email, but you will be notified via email once the results are available in your profile. 

Shipping Selected works will be due by September 12, 2024. Additional shipping details will be on the acceptance letter which can be downloaded in your OnlineJuriedShows account with your jury results. 

Shipping costs to and from the show are the responsibility of the artist, including all insurance, international fees, and shipping costs. International shipping can be very expensive, so we recommend you check with your preferred shipping carrier to get a price estimate if you are planning to submit and ship large artworks from outside the United States before you submit the work for the jury. Works will be returned/shipped with return labels provided by you from the Pearson Lakes Art Center during the first week of December 2024. 

Opening Reception Event: There will be an opening reception at the Pearson Lakes Art Center (PLAC) on Thursday, September 19 from 5 - 7 PM; at this time awards will be presented. All ISSA members and their guests are encouraged to attend. The Pearson Lakes Art Center is located at 2202 U.S. Hwy 17, Okoboji, Iowa 51355. We will also have two days of seminars on September 20-21, 2024. 

Additional Information: All accepted works MUST be sent to the show. If your work is juried in, and not sent, it will result in the artists’ exclusion from all exhibitions the following two years. All accepted work must match the submitted images. Submitted images may be used for exhibition publicity purposes, including but not limited to, postcards, posters, and promotional images on the ISSA or PLAC website or social media. The artist will be credited for images used whenever possible. 

ISSA reserves the right to exclude work that does not match the submitted digital image, arrives damaged, or is poorly framed. Works that when viewed in person do not meet ISSA’s definition of scratchboard will also be excluded from the show. 

Reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety of artwork while in our possession. However, ISSA nor the PLAC will be held liable for any damage or loss during the delivery, exhibition, removal, or return shipping of artwork. Works need to be insured by the artist for shipping and the duration of the show. ISSA and PLAC will not accept nor be held liable for any work damaged in shipment. 

Good Luck to all!